Fall Weather Pattern Arrives

Rain and much cooler temperatures behind a cold front will bring a feeling of fall to the east coast today. In addition, an active fall storm pattern developing in the Pacific Northwest this week will bring areas of heavy rains, and very high elevations could receive heavy snow. Wetting rains to the valley floors will spread south Thu and Fri into northern California,where active fires continue.
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February and Tornadoes

Tornadoes struck in central and south central Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of February 10, 2009, affecting the cities of Oklahoma City and Edmond in central Oklahoma, and Lone Grove and Ardmore in south central Oklahoma. Information from storm surveys and other sources are still being examined to determine the details of these tornadoes.

February Tornadoes

Prior to the Lone Grove tornado, there have been two other deadly tornadoes in February in Oklahoma since 1950, both occurring on February 22, 1975 in southwestern Oklahoma. On that day, one tornado struck Altus, killing two people, and another tornado killed one person near Mountain Park. These were two of six tornadoes that struck between midnight and 3 am in Oklahoma.

Prior to the Lone Grove tornado, rated EF-4, the strongest tornadoes to have occurred within Oklahoma in February since 1950 are two F3 tornadoes both that struck on February 17, 1961. One F3 tornado occurred in eastern Oklahoma county from near Spencer to northeast of Luther, and the other F3 tornado was part of a tornadic storm that moved from near Stratford to Konawa, Wewoka and to south of Shulter.

A total of 6 confirmed tornadoes from the February 10, 2009 event ties February 2009 with February 1975 for the most tornadoes to have occurred in Oklahoma during the month of February since official records began in 1950.

The 8 confirmed deaths associated with the Lone Grove, OK tornado ties it with the Morris tornado as the seventh deadliest tornado since 1950 in Oklahoma. This F3 tornado killed 8 people in the town of Morris, OK on April 26, 1984.

Prior to Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the last February tornado in Oklahoma occurred on February 25, 2000 in Tulsa.

Deadly Tornadoes

Deadliest Tornadoes in Oklahoma since 1950

1

36

5/03/1999

F5

Bridge Creek-Oklahoma City-Moore

2

24

5/20/2013

EF5

Newcastle-South Oklahoma City-Moore

3

20

5/25/1955

F5

Blackwell

4

16

5/05/1960

F4

Wilburton-Keota

16

5/05/1961

F4

Talihina-Reichert-Howe

6

14

6/08/1974

F4

Drumright-Olive-Lake Keystone

7

10

1/22/1957

F4

Gans

8

8

4/26/1984

F3

Morris

8

2/10/2009

EF4

Lone Grove-Ardmore

10

7

5/09/1959

F4

North Of Harden City and Stonewall

7

4/24/1993

F4

Catoosa

10

6*

5/10/2008

F4

Picher

*The Picher Tornado was responsible for 6 fatalities in Oklahoma, but 21 fatalities along its entire path in Oklahoma and Missouri.